Tag Archives: binoculars

Gadgets

Sunwayfoto T1A20 Tabletop Tripod

Sunwayfoto makes a wide range of carbon fiber, light weight photography, video, and hunting tripods. This is the opposite. This is a heavy weight all aluminum table top tripod. That isn’t in reference to its weight which is over 3lbs (remember this is a tabletop tripod that at its max is only 18 inches high). This tripod’s strong enough to hold up to 55lbs of equipment.

Sunwayfoto sent me both a tripod and a XB-52 ball head to test out. The tripod legs extend with a classic design where the leg extension is sandwiched between the support legs above it. The extending legs are double-headed with spikes on one end which can be removed and reversed for rubberized feet on the other. On the inside/bottom face of the legs are an additional set of rubber feet to allow the tripod legs to be splayed out a full 90º to allow the tripod to be placed as low as as possible on a table.

I tested the tripod at the range by attaching Maven 18x50mm binoculars. It handled this lightweight optic like it was nothing. Similarly when I mounted an AR with an ARCA/Swiss M-Lok adapter to the tripod, it prooved a beefy rifle rest. Unfortunately my final test was to try a telescope mounted on a Picatinny/ARCA adapter. Unfortunately, the XB-52 ball head offered strength enough to easily hold the rifle scope but there was just enough play that I wasn’t able to get a repeatable lock on a bullseye target at 100yrds when putting the turrets through a rough torture test.

My testing requirements are quite unusual so for 99% of the rest of you out there who have even the heaviest broadcast video rig or a high caliber rifle, this heavyweight tripod and ball head combination should well suit your needs.

BUY IT

Sunwayfoto affiliate https://sunwayfoto.com/products/sunwayfoto-t1a20-tripod-aluminum-camera-tripod-3-8-screw-maximum-load-25kg?ref=pwwCNnfb

SPECS

Main Material： Aluminum 
Number of Leg Sections： 2
Max Height： 18.1 in./ 46cm
Min Height： 0.16 in./ 5cm
Length with legs folded：12.6 in./32cm
Net Weight： 3.08 lb./1.4kg
Load Capacity： 55 lb./25kg 
Screw Thread： 3/8″ 
Leg Angles： 30°、60°、90° 
Top Plate Diameter： 2.68 in./6.8cm 

Shooting Sports

Maven B.3 8×30

When choosing travel binoculars there’s a trade off between power and portability. With the Maven B.3 it meets a Goldilocks spot between both. The B.3 compact size and optical performance covers a wide variety of users from hunters to sports fans, to birders, naturalists, and travelers. Most of all it appeals to those who strive for efficiency and minimalism.  

The B.3 comes in 6x, 8x, and 10x models, all with 30mm objective lenses and the same body. The differences in magnification also provide differences in field of view and depth of field, inverse to its magnification power. I chose the 8x to as the best balance of both. On Maven’s website, you have the ability to custom design and order your optics; selecting the color of components, including adding commercial camouflage patterns.

The B.3 also features ED glass for clarity and color balance. It has a generous depth of field, a wide field of view, and a silky focus mechanism. Like all of Maven’s optics, it is also the most stylish and aesthetically designed sports optics on the market.

BUY IT

Maven affiliate: https://alnk.to/a4415R6
Maven Custom builder (use code: moondog): https://alnk.to/3J6z2Dh
Amazon affiliate: https://amzn.to/4e7JckI

SPECS

B.3

Magnification: 8x

Objective: 30mm

Eye Relief: 15.1mm

Near Focus : 8.2 ft

FOV: 430 ft @ 1000 yrds

Coating: Multi

Glass: ED

Prism: Schmidt-Pechan

Waterproof 

Nitrogen Purged

Weight: 16.6 oz

Dimensions: 4.7W  x 4.6H x1.6D

Gadgets, Shooting Sports

Maven B.5 18×56 MIL Binoculars

Maven sent me the target model of their excellent B.5 18×56 binoculars. This version has a MIL target range finding reticle (they also make an MOA version) in the left tube of the binos. These are a feature that make them useful for target range estimation and shot correction in long range shooting sports.

While it only offers 18x magnification, binoculars offer stereoscopic depth perception unlike single tube scopes; this allows you to easily determine the relative distances of objects to each other and that of ground splashes to the target. Its size and compact form make it easy to pack and transport compared to a 80mm spotting scope (which can’t easily be use handheld like binoculars).

The B.5 features bright and clear Fluorite glass for crisp details. This is a step up in price and quality than standard ED glass which has some fluorite in it but “Fluorite ED” is even sharper and more expensive. Looking through the B.5 there is little chromatic aberration from edge to edge.

Looking at my reference targets at 100yrds I was able to see far clearer than in my phone camera test footage. Something about the eye and the brain when looking through binoculars allows you to see in greater zoomed detail. I was easily able to see the .22cal holes on paper even at 100yrds.

The B.5 has dark grey silicone rubber armored body tubes and striking metallic orange accents on its reticle leveling ring and washer sections. These colored accents and the body can be customized when ordering a build-your-own model of your optic on the Maven website. No other optics company offers such a wide range of custom style options on their products.

The B.5’s does not come cheap. This and all of Maven’s optics come in at a premium price tier. But its optical performance and customizable style make it look like a winner.

BUY IT

Amazon affiliate: https://amzn.to/3AAtY8D

Maven Custom builder (use code: moondog): https://alnk.to/3J6z2Dh

RESOLUTION

Element 5 / Group -1

SPECS

Magnification18x
Obj. lens diameter56mm
Exit pupil3.1mm
Field of View (FOV)3.7°
Apparent FOV (FOV x Power)66.6°
Field of view (ft/1000 yds)194
Brightness9.6
Light transmission (%)92.70%
Twilight factor31.7
Multi Position Eyecups Y/NYes
Eye relief18mm
Near focus9.8ft
Eye width adjustment56~75mm
Dimension WxHxD6.1×8.2×2.6
Weight45 oz
Shooting Sports

GTMedia N4 NVG

Night vision goggles (NVGs) used by military combat units cost thousands of dollars. But with “Digital Night Vision” goggles have made night vision affordable for civilians; in the hundreds of dollars (and sometimes under a hundred). GTMedia sent me their newest N4 model test and it is a good example of this type of NVG.

All digital cameras are sensitive to inferred (IR) wavelengths of light outside our eye’s visual spectrum. Digital NVGs are essentially portable digital video cameras and displays. These Digital NVGs are essentially Gen 1 night vision, only able to see images with the help of active IR illumination (an inferred flashlight).

The N4 is a compact and lightweight Digital NVG unit that has the form factor of a binocular but is in reality a single lens digital camera with individual eyepieces that look at the same display. The second objective lens is actually the IR flashlight which illuminates your subjects in beam that can extend out to over 100yrds. The N4 has a built in rechargeable battery and can take both video and 10MP photos while it is being used as an NVG.

The unit is made of lightweight plastic that has a 1/4″ photo socket so it can be used on a tripod or attached with a GoPro compatible bracket to a head strap and worn over your eyes, handsfree. The unit has a focus controls for the eyepieces to see the internal low-res LCD display and for the digital camera. My unit had a slight defect in the camera focus which limited the distance of sharp focus to 20ft-60ft. GTMedia sent me a replacement unit after I sent them videos of the problem which was mechanical in nature.

In testing I was able to see a man sized figure at a distance of 100yrds but because of the IR illumination, the image was mono-chromatic. The unit is able to see in full color but it’s camera is night very high fidelity and the video footage I was able to get was lackluster; about the same as low-quality security camera footage. The footage I did manage to get felt more like an analog horror game.

The 1x through the unit is more like 5x and is disorienting and makes to walking while wearing it in the dark, awkward and potentially dangerous on rough terrain. The light weight shell makes it easier to wear and travel with but feels fare too fragile to drop. It could do with some silicone armor and a stronger GoPro bracket connection or an adapter for NVG J-arm.

The unit did work and could allow me to identify animals or intruders at night but it is not a combat optic. Because Gen 1 NVGs require in IR light source, these can be easily seen at a great distance by Gen 2 or Gen 3 NVGs and identified. In a SHTF situation, the N4 is outclassed but it is better than not having night vision. There is an old saying, “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is the king.”

BUY IT

Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3WRpv97

GTMedia direct: https://gtmedia.global/products/gtmedia-n4-night-vision-binoculars?DIST=QEM%3D

SPECS

Photo resolution10MP(3648*2736)/8MP(3456*2448)/5MP(2592*1956)/3MP(2048*1536)/VGA(640*480)
Video resolutionFHD (1920X1080@30FPS),HD (1280×720@30FPS)
LensF1.2 large aperture, f=25mm
Lens angleFOV=10 degrees
Display screenInner screen 1.54inch (320 x 320) high-definition TFT
Auto-off1 minute/2 minutes/3 minutes/5 minutes/10 minutes/off
Infrared LED3W,850nm strong infrared focusing,7-gear intensity adjustable
Max distance in complete darknessAbout 250-300 meters
Daytime focus distance3 meters to infinity
Digital zoom5X times
Power supplyBuilt-in 3.7V 2000mAh lithium battery
Dimension: 150 x 125.5 x 64mm
Weight: 390g

Gadgets

Maven B.6 10x Binoculars

Maven sent me their new B.6 binoculars which comes in 10×25 and 12×50 sizes. These feature ED glass which reduces chromatic aberration to provide clearer, sharper images. These 10x field binoculars are small enough to pack in a range bag or luggage for a trip, while offering brighter images and a wider field of view than pocked sized 10x binos.

Despite only being 10x these optics surprised me when I was clearly able to see a pair of .22cal holes on my paper target at 100yrds. Typically these would be faint or hard to see with a 12x rifle scope. While not easily seen in my video footage, they were as clear as day with my naked eye.

The B.5 has dark grey silicone rubber armored body tubes and striking metallic orange accents on its reticle leveling ring and washer sections. These colored accents and the body can be customized when ordering a build-your-own model of your optic on the Maven website. No other optics company offers such a wide range of custom style options on their products.

The B.6 do not come cheap. This and all of Maven’s optics come in at a premium price tier between Zeiss and Leupold. Is it worth it? It certainly looks like a million bucks both outside and looking through it.

BUY IT

Amazon affiliate: https://amzn.to/3XbAoUw

Maven website: https://alnk.to/gzVUnQp

Maven Custom builder (use code: moondog): https://alnk.to/8iUihuy

RESOLUTION

Element 2 / Group -1

SPECS

Magnification10x
Obj. lens diameter50mm
Exit pupil5mm
Field of View (FOV)6.5°
Apparent FOV (FOV x Power)65°
Field of view (ft/1000 yds)341
Brightness25
Light transmission (%)94.75%
Twilight factor22.4
Multi Position Eyecups Y/NYes
Eye relief18.1mm
Near focus7.5ft
Eye width adjustment58~74mm
Dimension WxHxD5.2×6.6×2.3
Weight30.69 oz
Shooting Sports

Leupold BX4 Gen 2

At SHOT Show I was given a sneak peek at Leupold’s newly redesigned BX4 Pro HD Gen2. The BX4 line is Leupold’s most popular line of binoculars offering world class optical performance. The Gen 2 model features a split bridge design which allows the user to completely wrap your hand around the tube for a firmer, natural hold.

In testing, the optic lived up to its reputation for clarity, color rendition, and brightness. In bright morning light, the image through the scope was almost too bright, blowing out some details in my camera. In dusk or low light this optic should prove to be a strong performer.

If it’s optical performance weren’t enough reason to be satisfied with these binoculars, Leupold didn’t skimp on the accessories. They include two additional rubber eyecups, including a spare set of rear lens covers designed to fit the larger wrap-round eyecups. In addition, the padded case is stylish and well designed.

AFFILIATE RETIAL LINK

Amazon https://amzn.to/3QjsPYb

RESOLUTION

12x @100yrds: Element 6 / Group -2

SPECS

Length: 6.6″

Weight: 28.5 oz.

Magnification: 12

Objective Lens: 50mm

FOV (ft@1000): 251 yrds

FOV: 4.8º

Eye Relief: 16mm

Exit Pupil: 3.9mm

Min Focus: 10 ft.

Interpupillary Distance Max: 74mm

Interpupillary Distance Min: 58mm

Shooting Sports

Element Optics: Shot Show

At this year’s SHOT Show I spoke with one of Element’s owner’s, Shane Keller. This Utah based company with design offices in Sweeden and South Africa. While a relatively new company in sporting optics, this company was founded by professional shooters and optics designers with decades of experience. Their Nexus and Helix scopes quickly gained a following among competition PRS shooters for their quality design, features, and optics which rivaled established premium brands.

At this year’s booth they showcased their new Tier 1 PRS scope, the Theos. This scope effers not just superb optical performance but innovative and practical features such as tool-less turret and zero-stop reset, and a pop-out turret rotation indicator. Their Theos, Helix, and Nexus, feature a stylish gunmetal grey finish and are built in Japan.

In addition to their new rifle scopes, they also offer a 10x binocular and I was surprised to also find out they offered a variety of range finding accessories. Their handheld laser rangefinder that connects via Bluetooth to their ballistic App. What really intrigued me was an unusual small laser rangefinder unit that is designed to piggyback on your existing scope. About the size of a AA EDC light, this unit has an LCD ballistic display on its tail to offer the shooter immediate data to take their shot.

I hope to get my hands on Elements products soon to test them out and learn for myself what all the buzz is about.

AFFILIATE RETAIL LINK

Optics Planet https://shrsl.com/4imnk

Shooting Sports

Athlon Midas G2 Pro 12×50

One of the new products that Athlon had at their SHOT Show booth this year was their new generation of Pro UHD binoculars. They had upgraded the body design and features of the 8x, 10x, and 12x hunting binoculars and I was excited when they offered to send me a pair to test out.

I got the 12×50 Midas G2 Pro UHDs with the new TBR reticle. The PRO model has an etched MIL reticle in a rotating bezel in the right tube. It provides a clean and unobtrusive reticle, ideal for long range shooting corrections and ranging. The Gen 2 update features black rubberized armor over a light-weight magnesium body and most importantly, with ED glass.

ED glass reduces chromatic aberration. In field testing, I could not see any purple fringe even when looking at wires or flag poles at the outer edge of the optics field of view. The image overall was bright, balanced, sharp and clear. They produced some of the clearest images I’ve tested from a 12x binocular under $500.

AFFILIATE RETAIL LINKS

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VSVhDW

Midway USA: https://sovrn.co/1l9rzg2

RESOLUTION

100yrds
ELEMENT: 6
GROUP: -2

SPECS

MIDAS G2 PRO

Magnification: 12x

Objective: 50mm

Eye Relief: 15.0mm

Close Focus : 3.5m

FOV: 281 fr. @ 1000 yrds

Coating: XPL

Glass: UHD

Prism: BaK-4

Waterproof 

Argon Purged

Weight: 32 oz

Dimensions: 6.5″ x 5.1″

Shooting Sports

New Athlon Binos and Spotter

Athlon has revamped their Midas binoculars and Cronus spotting scope. These are Athlon Optics top tier field scope models. Their binoculars have been updated with a bevy of ergonomic and usability enhancements including a redesigned diopter for better functionality.

Their flagship optic, the Cronus spotting scope now features a tandem fast and fine focus dials instead of the single barrel focus ring. I tested a Cronus tactical spotting scope earlier this year and it was a super clean and bright. This high magnification model promises to be every bit as sharp.

Midas binoculars are available on Amazon through this affiliate link: https://amzn.to/49zuSyC

Cronus G2 spotter is available on Amazon through this affiliate link: https://amzn.to/48t5mtI

Shooting Sports

Leupold BX4 Gen2

Leupold has updated their entire BX4 line. These scopes still offer the exceptional optics we’ve come to expect from Leupold. The Gen 2 offers a lighter optic, enhanced non-slip skin, and eyecups.

This scope is available on Amazon
10×32 BX4 binocular https://amzn.to/3OEk4ar
10×42 BX4 binocular https://amzn.to/3wfOfOR
10×50 BX4 binocular https://amzn.to/3wfOx8p
12×50 BX4 binocular https://amzn.to/4bzb3ct
8×32 BX4 binocular https://amzn.to/3UDZlHC
8×42 BX4 https://amzn.to/3OKi7Jv
Spotting Scope https://amzn.to/42IiHx5